Andrew Nelson '26 Recruiting Profile

My name is Andrew Nelson. I will be a 2026 graduate of Sioux Central High School in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, where I am a 3-sport varsity athlete. Beyond baseball, my faith and my family are very important to me. I have inherited my love of baseball from my dad, and I have inherited the drive and determination necessary to be a college athlete from my mom, who played soccer at Wayne State College in Nebraska. Physically, I have been somewhat later to develop than many of my peers. In the past year I have started to grow and add a lot of strength quickly. This later development has caused me to depend on skill rather than pure strength compared to my peers throughout the years. Now as I add more explosiveness and strength to my game, I know I will continue to improve.

I am a very good student, and a natural leader. I am currently the president of my school’s FFA chapter. FFA has helped me develop my communication and leadership skills, which translate well into being a leader of my baseball team, particularly at the catcher position. 

I have grown up on a multi-generational grain and livestock family farm. I love working hard on our farm. In contrast to today’s world of instant gratification, growing up on our farm has taught me the value in working hard now for a payoff that is months (or more) into the future. This set of values also translates well to baseball, as I am especially motivated in offseason workouts and skill development even though the payoff for that work is often months away. 

I love the game of baseball, and I look forward to continuing to grow and improve with the goal of playing the game at a high level for as long as I can. I would enjoy the opportunity to visit with you about continuing that work with your program. Thank you!